LEEDS UNITED manager David O'Leary is under instruction to reduce the size of his squad by four players this summer after the club yesterday announced a #14m half-yearly loss.

O'Leary last week threatened to break up the squad during the close season as he felt a number of players had reached the end of the road with regard to their Leeds careers.

A major overhaul is due to take place at Elland Road, with no-one safe from being shown the door if the price is right as chairman Peter Ridsdale is demanding a profit on transfer dealings this summer.

Ridsdale maintains the club will not be selling "the crown jewels" in skipper Rio Ferdinand, Mark Viduka, Olivier Dacourt and Harry Kewell, with the latter courted by Inter Milan.

The interest in the quality quartet remains high, with Deportivo La Coruna the latest club eyeing up Viduka, while Juventus are determined to lure Dacourt to Turin.

There is no doubt the resolve of Rids-dale and the club's plc will be tested to its limit in the close season, although the Leeds supremo feels confident enough money can be raised with the sales of other first-team members.

Michael Duberry, Stephen McPhail and Jason Wilcox can all expect to leave, while the likes of David Batty, Gary Kelly and Ian Harte may even be allowed to go.

With Michael Bridges due to return from his long-term injury hell at the start of next season, it means O'Leary will have five strikers on his books, with Robbie Keane the one most likely to make way.

"We would expect a net income from transfers this coming summer," said Ridsdale, in the wake of the club's #13.8m loss for the final six months of last year.

"David and I are in full agreement, and I would expect to see the squad reduced by four for the start of next season, and that's a net reduction. So if we brought in two players, then six would leave.

"But without naming players, let's just say we have added the numbers up that we believe we could raise by selling certain players at certain values without reducing the quality of the squad.

"But we will not be selling the crown jewels. Obviously, if bids do come in then I will have to put them before the board, but they are not in our plans and I hope they are with us next season."

Leeds' failure to reach this season's Champions League contributed significantly to the latest deficit, with the club's summer transfer policy dependent on which European tournament they qualify for come May.

With fifth-placed Leeds seven points adrift of the Champions League positions with nine matches remaining, Ridsdale added, "Our priority for the rest of this season is to qualify for Europe, with our ultimate objective being the Champions League.

"As a minimum qualification for next season, the Uefa Cup looks highly achievable, either via the league or the Intertoto Cup, which the board and David have agreed to enter.

"The board will trade assets as required by the nature of the competition."